Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Anne Gowing 020 8541 9938
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Chairman to report apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Angell, Mr Beardsmore, Mrs Coleman, Mrs Frost, Ms Heath, Mr Kington, Mrs Lay and Mr Young. |
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 December 2013.
(Note: the Minutes, including the appendices, will be laid on the table half an hour before the start of the meeting).
Additional documents: Minutes: One amendment to the minutes was requested:
Item No. 84/13 – re. Adjournment: Rachael I Lake requested that her name was removed because she was present for the afternoon session of the meeting.
The minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 10 December 2013, as amended, were submitted, confirmed and signed. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman to report.
A list of Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2014 is included within the agenda papers. The Chairman has written letters of congratulations to all those who have received awards for services to Surrey communities. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman made the following announcements:
(i) He invited the Leader of the Council to make an urgent statement in relation to the flooding issues affecting the county (Appendix A). Members were invited to make comments and ask questions.
(ii) Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year Honours List. A list was included within the agenda. He informed Members that he had written letters of congratulations to those who had receive awards for services to Surrey communities.
(iii) Related Party Disclosures – he reminded Members, that it was a legal requirement to complete their forms, and return them to Finance by the deadline in March.
(iv) Members Survey – he drew Members’ attention to the online survey sent to them last Friday.
(v) He had attended a short service, held in the Great Hall on 27 January 2014, to commemorate Holocaust Day.
(vi) That he had attended the funeral of Frederick Alistair Stone CBE, DL – Surrey County Council’s Chief Executive from 1974 – 1988.
(vii) He had also attended Sarah Mitchell’s, Strategic Director for Adult Social Care leaving party at Dorking Halls.
(viii) The Lord Lieutenant had presented Surrey County Council with a Commonwealth Flag. There would be a special flag raising ceremony in approximately one month’s time.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
NOTES:
· Each Member must declare any interest that is disclosable under the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, unless it is already listed for that Member in the Council’s Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner). · If the interest has not yet been disclosed in that Register, the Member must, as well as disclosing it at the meeting, notify the Monitoring Officer of it within 28 days. · If a Member has a disclosable interest, the Member must not vote or speak on the agenda item in which it arises, or do anything to influence other Members in regard to that item.
Additional documents: Minutes: There was none. |
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To approve: · the draft revenue and capital budget for the five years 2014-19; · the level of the council tax precept for 2014/15; and · the treasury management strategy, including the borrowing and operation limits (prudential indicators), policy for the provision of the repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision (MRP)), and treasury management policy. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman said that the papers for this item were included in the agenda and the supplementary report of the Cabinet circulated last week. He asked Members to note that the recommendations before them today, numbered (1) to (15) were set out in the supplementary report.
He said that the debate on the Budget would be conducted in accordance with the County Council’s Standing Orders, with the exception that he would allow the minority group leaders five minutes each for speeches on the Budget proposals.
The Leader presented the report of the Cabinet on the Revenue and Capital Budget 2014/15 to 2018/19, the Council Tax Requirement for 2014/15 and the Treasury Management Strategy and made a statement in support of the proposed budget. A copy of the Leader’s statement is attached as Appendix B.
The Chief Finance Officer presented her report to Council. A copy of her statement is attached as Appendix C.
Each of the Minority Group Leaders (Mrs Watson, Mr Johnson and Mr Harrison) spoke on the budget proposals.
Key points made by Mrs Watson were:
· Support for the level of council tax proposed but opposition to the budget as a whole · The budget needed to be radically reshaped and more needed to be done to raise funding from the European Union · Pleased the Administration was spending money to resurface roads and provide more school places but other areas needed additional funding · The majority of Surrey residents did not think that the County Council provided Value for Money · A request for a separate vote on recommendations (10) and (11)
Key points made by Mr Johnson were:
· Disappointment that the Council Tax was being increased and that the budget report indicated that further increases would be inevitable · The aim of all Members was to obtain the best possible result for their electorate · There was no mention of cutting costs and he hoped that next year’s budget would address this (However, front line services should be excluded)
Mr Harrison moved an amendment, to the Budget recommendations, which was formally seconded by Mr Townsend. This was:
A new recommendation (15):
15. acknowledges the challenging and ambitious savings targets for the Friends, Family and Community Programme within the Adult Social Care Directorate and requires the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and the Chief Finance Officer to develop contingency plans to make savings in other budget areas to ensure the overall County Council budget envelope for 2014/15 is maintained.
And amend the original recommendation 15, to become a new recommendation (16)
(additional words underlined and deletions crossed through)
So that the Budget recommendations now read:
The County Council:
(1) – (14) As per the supplementary report of the Cabinet
(15) acknowledges the challenging and ambitious savings targets for the Friends, Family ... view the full minutes text for item 5/14 |
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ORIGINAL MOTION
Item 6(i)
Mrs Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills) to move under Standing Order 11 as follows:
‘This Council notes the Government announcements restricting Surrey County Council’s Council Tax increase, without incurring the cost of holding a referendum, to a level which will severely impact on Surrey’s services to the public.
This Council believes in local government as one of the cornerstones of democracy in the UK, championing the needs and ambitions of the people it represents and that decisions made on behalf of a community are best made by those in the community.
This Council notes the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement that local government is the most efficient part of the public sector.
Council further notes the General Power of Competence introduced in the Localism Act 2011 giving local authorities power to do anything that individuals of full legal capacity may do giving authorities the power to take reasonable action they need ‘for the benefit of the authority, its area or persons resident or present in its area'.
This Council supports the Local Government Association in its campaign for independence for local government based on the following principles:
i) Councils should retain in full the proceeds of Council Tax and business rates, subject to retaining mechanisms for fairness and redistribution and that both these taxes should be determined by councils alone without central government interference;
ii) Councils should be granted greater freedoms and flexibilities to drive economic growth;
iii) Councils should be accountable to their electorates and not to ministers of the Crown;
iv) The burden of statutory duties and central compliance regimes should be lifted further; and
This Council therefore resolves to work with Surrey’s Members of Parliament, the LGA and other Councils to campaign for a far greater devolution of powers from central to local government.’
Additional documents: Minutes: Under Standing Order 12.3, the Council agreed to debate this motion.
Under Standing Order 12.1, Mrs Hazel Watson moved the motion which was:
‘This Council notes the Government announcements restricting Surrey County Council’s Council Tax increase, without incurring the cost of holding a referendum, to a level which will severely impact on Surrey’s services to the public.
This Council believes in local government as one of the cornerstones of democracy in the UK, championing the needs and ambitions of the people it represents and that decisions made on behalf of a community are best made by those in the community.
This Council notes the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement that local government is the most efficient part of the public sector.
Council further notes the General Power of Competence introduced in the Localism Act 2011 giving local authorities power to do anything that individuals of full legal capacity may do giving authorities the power to take reasonable action they need ‘for the benefit of the authority, its area or persons resident or present in its area'.
This Council supports the Local Government Association in its campaign for independence for local government based on the following principles:
i) Councils should retain in full the proceeds of Council Tax and business rates, subject to retaining mechanisms for fairness and redistribution and that both these taxes should be determined by councils alone without central government interference; ii) Councils should be granted greater freedoms and flexibilities to drive economic growth; iii) Councils should be accountable to their electorates and not to ministers of the Crown; iv) The burden of statutory duties and central compliance regimes should be lifted further; and
This Council therefore resolves to work with Surrey’s Members of Parliament, the LGA and other Councils to campaign for a far greater devolution of powers from central to local government.’
The motion was formally seconded by Mr Cooksey.
Mr Martin moved an amendment, which was tabled at the meeting.
The amendment was as follows (with additional words underlined and deletions crossed through:
‘This Council notes the Government announcement on the council tax referendum threshold. This council asserts that it should be for councils and their residents to decide how local services are paid for, not Whitehall. The ballot box on local election-day allows for people to pass judgement on their councils.
This Council notes the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement that local government is the most efficient part of the public sector.
Council further notes the General Power of Competence introduced in the Localism Act 2011 giving local authorities power to do anything that individuals of full legal capacity may do giving authorities the power to take reasonable action they need ‘for the benefit of the authority, its area or persons resident or ... view the full minutes text for item 6/14 |
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MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME
The Leader of the Council or the appropriate Member of the Cabinet or the Chairman of a Committee to answer any questions on any matter relating to the powers and duties of the County Council, or which affects the county.
(Note: Notice of questions in respect of the above item on the agenda must be given in writing, preferably by e-mail, to Anne Gowing in Democratic Services by 12 noon on Wednesday 5 February 2014).
Additional documents: Minutes: Notice of 5 questions had been received. The questions and replies are attached as Appendix D.
A number of supplementary questions were asked and a summary of the main points is set out below:
(Q1) Mr Ellwood suggested that another provider may come forward to run Redwood and asked the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care for the service’s viewpoint. He also urged the Cabinet Member to relocate existing residents as soon as possible to nearby homes in Guildford. The Cabinet Member considered that it was unlikely that an alternative provider would come forward because the building did not meet the standards of a modern quality care home in relation to assisted bathrooms. He also confirmed that the service was working closely with residents and their families to discuss their options and support them in looking for alternative provision.
(Q3) Mrs Mason referred to the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) in a previous Administration, when the Authority had been advised to reduce their number and considered that this had not happened. Mr Essex asked for details on how the County Council benchmarked against other Councils. The Leader of the Council stated that Surrey County Council was open and transparent and confirmed that it benchmarked well against other Councils. He also said that the SRAs were approved by Members at County Council meetings.
(Q4) Mr Robert Evans considered that the response to his question had not answered it. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Highways and the Environment responded and said that he had given a full answer, which set out the many improvements that had been made since 1968 and in particular, the last 10 years. He said that officers had been extremely busy dealing with the current flooding issues and thanked all staff involved in this current emergency. Finally, he said that Surrey County Council was the lead authority on flood risk and that a report on Surrey’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy would be presented to a forthcoming Cabinet meeting.
(Q5) Mr Jenkins asked the Cabinet Member for Community Services what measures the County Council would take if the proposals for Surrey Fire and Rescue (SF&R) in Spelthorne were unacceptable. Mrs Mason expressed concern about the second team and requested that these were addressed. The Cabinet Member for Community Services said that the decision relating to changes to the deployment of fire engines in the Spelthorne area had already been made by Cabinet at its meeting on 4 February 2014 and that a business case would now be developed and considered by the Communities Select Committee. She also stressed the importance of a strategic vision across the county for SF&R and confirmed that risks would be included in the strategy.
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STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
Any Member may make a statement at the meeting on a local issue of current or future concern.
(Note: Notice of statements must be given in writing, preferably by e-mail, to Anne Gowing in Democratic Services by 12 noon on Monday 10 February 2014).
Additional documents: Minutes: There were no local Member statements. |
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REPORT OF THE CABINET
To receive the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 December 2013 and 4 February 2014 and to agree one recommendation in respect of Confident in our Future, Corporate Strategy 2014 – 2019.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader presented the reports of the Cabinet meetings held on 17 December 2013 and 4 February 2014.
(1) Statements / Updates from Cabinet Members
The Cabinet Member for Community Services referred to her statement relating to the Tower Awards, which had been included in the agenda papers.
(2) Recommendations on Policy Framework Documents
A Confident in our Future, Corporate Strategy 2014 – 2019
The Leader of the Council said that the Corporate Strategy clearly set out the Council’s priorities for 2014/15 and was intertwined with the Budget recommendations.
RESOLVED:
That Confident in our Future, the Corporate Strategy 2014 - 2019, as set out in Annex1 to the submitted report, be agreed.
(3) Reports for Information / Discussion
The following reports were received and noted:
· Surrey Cycling Strategy · Quarterly Report on Decisions taken under Special Urgency Arrangements: 1 October – 31 December 2013
RESOLVED:
That the report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 17 December 2013 and 4 February 2014 be adopted.
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Report of the Audit and Governance Committee
To receive the Annual Report 2012 – 2013 of the Audit and Governance Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman of the Audit and Governance presented his committee’s Annual Report 2012/13.
RESOLVED:
That the Audit and Governance Committee’s Annual Report 2012/13 to Council be noted. |
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MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF CABINET
Any matters within the minutes of the Cabinet’s meetings, and not otherwise brought to the Council’s attention in the Cabinet’s report, may be the subject of questions and statements by Members upon notice being given to the Democratic Services Lead Manager by 12 noon on Monday 10 February 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: No notification had been received from Members wishing to raise a question or make a statement on any of the matters in the minutes, by the deadline. |